Ruminations of an Afterlife

I'm sorry to hear you had to say goodbye, dude, but you're right... it's good he's not in pain any more. And it's awesome that you got to settle things between the two of you before it happened. I know there's nothing I can say to match the importance of it, but I do get it. I remember what it meant to forgive my dad too, even though he's still here. You rock, man.

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I don't mind saying goodbye. And this means when I say hello again, it won't be fucking awkward! Which is exactly what I wanted.

It's a pretty good feeling, isn't it? To be able to say you forgive someone when you don't have to. I like it.

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Hear, hear. You planted a seed that's gonna grow into something really valuable for the future. Total awesomeness.

Yeah, I'm really glad I did it. I was fuckin' glad to have Kat by my side when I did. We're gonna get her back, and I for one am gonna make damn sure she gets through all this. I know what it's like to have blood on your hands, too.

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Haha like babies! I mean...not exactly but... God, I am a woman.

We'll all be there for her. She will not lack for support. Ever.

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Haha, yeah. Dude, I'm gonna be a dad soon.

I know it, man. It's bloody good to know.

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You are! Me too!

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Rockin'!

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It was wonderful of you to ease his passing in the best way you could. I think he'll find a lot of things making more sense to him now, and you would have made that much easier for him. He's very, very lucky to have had a son like you. I know you'll be making him proud here.

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I hope he does. I didn't want him to be afraid of a Hell that doesn't exist. I didn't want that to be the reason he made excuses for what he'd done.

I hope I do make him proud.

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You're right. No one should have to fear the shadows, when no harm can come from them. Nor should those shadows be an excuse. You cast a bright light today, Thomas, and freed Bernard from many shadows, I think. I don't believe you could possibly fail to make him proud.

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I'm going to show him what a father should be.

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You'll do so magnificently.

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Thank you, Mary.

You okay?

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I am. I'll be better when we have Kat back safely with us. I love her in all that she is, and I hate what she's going through.

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So do I. Both things.

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Dear Thomas, I love you so much. You're one of the most compassionate people I've ever known. I'm so glad you had the opportunity to do this. Even though it was at the end, I believe this would have been one of the most important events of Bernard's life.

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It's not the end, it's the beginning. I'll see him again. I do hope it was an important event and when I eventually do join him again, we can be actually have a relationship. It matters to me. I didn't think it would, but it does.

I love you too.

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If it matters to you, Thomas, then I'm sure you will build that relationship. It sounds like it matters to Bernard, too. You certainly proved today that it isn't too late, and perhaps it never is.

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Nothing really ends. It's strange to have that knowledge. I don't think we're supposed to. But nevermind. I think I do better with having it.

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I think there is definitely much to be said for having that knowledge. It makes a lot of things less mysterious and frightening, while not stripping us of any of our wonders.

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You're one of my wonders.

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